Parmenas Sweatte Obituary (1936 - 2022)

Parmenas Cornelius Sweatte, 85, passed away on February 14, 2022 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. Known as Paul to most, he was born on July 31, 1936 to the late Ethel and Malachi Sweatte in Pemberton, WV. As a young man, he enjoyed hunting with his dog as well as playing baseball. In fact, he was the first black player to integrate the local Warren Williams baseball league, where he played second base on the Home Insurance team. After graduating from Stratford High in Beckley, WV, he enlisted in the Army in 1956 where he served for almost three years before being honorably discharged. Afterwards, he settled in New Jersey where he married Dorothy Mae Littlejohn and from that union came 4 children. He liked to proclaim "I invented driving" in large part due to his 15 years of experience as a truck driver for the Wakefern trucking company. Afterwards, he worked as a toll collector on the New Jersey Turnpike for 30 years before moving to Fayetteville in 1998 to spend his retirement years. He was a strong Leo, with a quick wit and sharp sense of humor, which served him well over the years allowing him to make many friends and have an active social life. One of his favorite past times was playing a good card game with his Uncle Clea and his brother-in-law Sam. They'd play for hours and shout "Bookum" while slapping down the winning hand on the table. He loved his family and friends and had a knack for coming up with nicknames for those he was closest to. He always let you know where he stood, and loved to talk and laugh about everything from finances, politics and current events to sports, reality housewives, and celebrities. He also loved to look good, eat well, and drive in style. In his earlier years, he enjoyed pinto beans, pigs feet and cornbread every Tuesday for dinner, and in retirement he would cook himself black eyed peas, liver, or potatoes and onions when he had a taste for them. He treated each vehicle he owned like his baby, and would keep each one in immaculate condition, from his '77 Buick Electra, to his Mazda 929 and Toyota Tundra. And he would always remind you of who he felt was the greatest in every sport, from legends such as Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Wilt Chamberlain to Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Serena Williams, and Patrick Mahomes. He leaves behind his children Debra, Paula, Yolanda, Larry, and Paul as well as his siblings Dorcas, Dorothia, Carrie, Tim, and Joe, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members. Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers Nathaniel and Thaddeus as well as his sister Marcella. In addition, his legacy will be preserved through the lives of his 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. There will be a funeral service on Saturday February 26, 2022 at 12:00 noon at Adcock Funeral Home, 2226 Lillington Highway, Spring Lake. There will be a visitation for friends and family from 10:00am until 12:00pm prior to the service. Burial will be held at a later date at William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ. Services entrusted to Adcock Funeral Home and Crematory, Spring Lake.